Trey Lockerbie

CELSIUS Holdings, Inc. might still have ample sales and marketing levers to pull...and its core energy drinks continue to resonate with buyers, but I still can't shake this feeling I got when walking the expo floor at last year's The NACS Show... "CELSIUS has transcended the energy drinks category." But what could that mean for CELSIUS? My assumption is that internally, that insight would manifested itself in John Fieldly making this strategic decision: ▪️ we should extend the CELSIUS brand into additional adjacent product categories I'm certain that the executive leadership team has pondered how far the CELSIUS brand could stretch, but I’d caution utilizing a “branded house” or some other more singular brand architecture. Instead, I’d recommend CELSIUS Holdings indirectly leveraging my insight above...and become a “house of brands” that separates the consumer benefit platforms. Protein = Before looking at an outside M&A, I'd start retesting the FAST brand it already owns. Hydration = Since November 2023, I've suggested they buy Vita Coco. Regardless, I don’t expect huge portfolio changes anytime super soon…but this is something to watch on an ongoing basis. #strategy #trends #markets #fmcg #cpg #beverages #energydrinks #sportsnutrition #supplements #mergersandacquisitions #wellness #nutrition #innovation #marketing #branding #productdevelopment #retailing #merchandising #retail #grocery #business #businessintelligence #entrepreneurship Kyle Watson Jarrod Langhans

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Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make: Be Unrealistic I received my DSP (serial #: 1259711) on February 24th, 2012. On May 14th 2012, less 3 months later, Sorel Liqueur was on shelves. If I'd told anyone I would go from newly licensed to available for sale in less than 3 months, they’d have said I was being unrealistic. Every good entrepreneur enjoys a precarious relationship with reality. None of the liquor giants would have green-lit turning an obscure Caribbean beverage into a brand, and yet: if, in 2012, I'd told anyone I could take my kitchen beverage and turn it into the most awarded American made liqueur of all time, they’d have said I was being unrealistic. Being unrealistic is a super-power. Everything about the Sorel Liqueur story sounds made up; the fever dream of a marketing department gone mad. The narrative sounds so impossible so as to require the suspension of disbelief. And yet, in many ways, this is what defines an entrepreneur: Someone who doesn't acknowledge the constraints of current reality, or more accurately, acknowledges them and proceeds anyway. When reality doesn't feel like wet clay in my fingers I assume something is wrong with reality. My expectations are unrealistic, which may be why things others consider impossible feel like temporary impediments. The product does't exist–you create it. You don't have the time–you find it. You're without financial resources–you manifest them. You become Hannibal crossing the Alps, and you adopt the motto "Aut inveniam viam aut faciam:" find a way, or make one. The process of overcoming the infinite obstacles between you and the actualization of your dreams is preparation for success. You come to understand that reality is malleable, to those with the tenacity to impose their will over it. You also operate with the awareness that the closer you get to the barrier which separates possible from impossible, the greater the pressure to capitulate. Realistically, you got this far. You sure you wanna quit now? When reality starts to set in, when you're beyond tired, at your wits end, looking at stacks of bills, wondering how you're going to get through it all, the temptation to "be realistic" can be overpowering. So long as you've surround yourself with people hyper-sane people who tether your dreams to reality, the key to opening the next locked door is often the ability to "believe six impossible things before breakfast." Remember: everything can't be done, until you do it. #CEOTalk #Entrepreneur #BlackOwned #ForTheCulture #Caribbean #Brooklyn #DrinkSorel

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KEEP IT SIMPLE. Especially when you have a multiple use product, you can unintentionally confuse your customer. Pick the main use, and let them discover the other “bonus” uses through your marketing and storytelling and customer testimonials. Sure Mutt's Sauce LLC is great on a salad, but honestly most people use it as barbecue. Ask me anything or share your additional wisdom in the comments! #sauce #mentoring

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Results are in. Acast’s latest financial figures for Q3 2024 show year on year revenue growth 📈 as we hit another profitability milestone with a positive EBITDA margin of 3% for the quarter.💥 Thanks to my co-host Emily Villatte for joining me to share our latest numbers with the world. It’s been a great few months, with our full-year EBITDA profitability goal officially in sight. Thank you to our Acasters around the world for your continued hard work and support. Without you, truly, we would not be where we are today. And – of course – to our creators, advertisers and partners for continuing to believe in Acast. The industry is evolving, and we at Acast are at the center, supporting creators and advertisers and expanding cross-platform. This IS the time for the business of podcasting. Here’s to the future. 🚀 - 💰 Our net sales grew 12%, with 14% being organic growth - 📈 Our gross margin remained high at 40% - 💸 EBITDA of SEK16m, reflecting an EBITDA margin of 3% in the quarter (-6% in Q3 2023), and we remain on track for full-year EBITDA profitability - 🎙️ Our platform hosts more than 135,000 podcasts and 2,700 advertisers globally - 🎧 Our listens landed at more than 1 billion for the quarter - 🤗 We’ve now paid out more than $410 million to our creators since launching - 🌱 We are seeing growth in demand of omnichannel campaigns, as podcasters continue to expand their audiences across audio, video, social media, live events and more, and advertisers look to reach these audiences across these platforms. You can read our full report at investors.acast.com, or listen back to our presentation (in podcast form) shortly here: https://lnkd.in/eQbNWZnx.

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Focus on the lifetime value of your customers (LTV) for more profits. Thanks Entrepreneur Magazine for letting me help with this article.

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After 13 years of strategic management consulting within the CPG industry, the number one question I get asked is “why don’t you launch your own CPG brand because you obviously know every step inside and out.” Well…I’m happy to report that I've just successfully filed my S-1 document with the SEC and have secured the "JOSH" stock ticker for my upcoming IPO. As always...thank you for shopping with The Joshua Company. 🤣 #trends #markets #food #beverages #fmcg #cpg #entrepreneurship

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As radio continues to evolve, one thing remains consistent: the importance of good branding. ⚡ The key components to a strong radio brand is custom-made sonic logo and jingles.🎵 When you tune-in to a radio station, what do you hear? a great jingle that sticks to your head or a unique sweep that calls out the station's name and slogan. 🔊 These elements are essential for creating a strong and memorable brand identity that listeners can instantly recognise and emotionally connect with. 💛 Custom-made imaging and jingles are important because: 🎙️ They allow your station to stand out from the competition. Today, with so many stations competing for listener’s time & attention, it's important to have a unique and recognisable brand identity. 🎙️ Reinforce your brand values. Your imaging and jingles should represent your stations core values and reinforce the messaging and can help build brand loyalty. 🎙️ Enhance the listening experience and keep audiences tuned-in. By creating world-class, unique elements you can immerse your listeners into your brand, and become more engaging. Overall, a hand crafted, tailor made imaging package is an essential ingredient in building a strong and recognisable brand for your radio.💪🏼 And at Global Music Branding we believe jingles should sound like the music you play, and through our collaborative musical journey we create exceptional music that remains true to your station’s format and values. 🎶 Get in touch with us to find out more. 🤩 #radio #radioimaging #radiojingles #musicproduction #musiccomposition

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In this episode of Let's Be Blunt with Montel, we sit down with William McKenzie, a true pioneer in the cannabis industry. William's story is one of transformation and resilience. From his beginnings as a legacy operator in Northern California to becoming the CEO & Founder of Left Coast Holdings, a leading cannabis cultivation, processing, and retail company in Michigan, his journey is nothing short of inspiring. William shares his experiences navigating the challenging shift from the legacy market to the legal cannabis space, providing insights into the evolving perceptions of cannabis over the past decade. We also discuss his personal battles and triumphs, including his recovery from addiction, maintaining 12 years of sobriety, and achieving a remarkable health transformation by losing 100 pounds. But that's not all—William is also making waves with his new community initiative for cannabis operators, the Elite Cannabis Operators Mastermind group. This platform fosters collaboration, accountability, and mutual support among industry peers, helping to push the cannabis sector forward. Join us as William McKenzie talks about: 1.His start in the cannabis industry and the challenges of transitioning to the legal market. 2.The evolution of cannabis perception over the last decade. 3.Balancing sobriety with running a cannabis business. 4.His significant health and wellness achievements. 5.Building a supportive community for cannabis operators. 6.His current operations at Left Coast Holdings and what sets them apart. 7.Strategies for maintaining a consistent consumer experience across multiple retail locations. 8.The mission behind the Elite Cannabis Operators Mastermind group. 9.Exciting future developments for Left Coast Holdings. Tune in to gain valuable insights from one of the top voices in the cannabis industry and learn why collaboration and community are crucial for the industry's success. https://lnkd.in/eE9PRWnu

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The visions and opportunities that God is not only bringing to me…but also showing me how to bring those to others. These are life changing moments. When you hear about this one…🥹🤯🙏🏾 As mentioned…at this point, you can’t afford not to work with me. But also…yesterday’s price…you know the rest. 🤣 Let’s go! #sync #levelup #synclicensing #musicbusiness #networking #musicmarketing #custommusic

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Mike Marceante from KIDSUNITED USA shares some critical advice for franchisors: stick to the process. Success is built on consistency, discipline, and following a proven path. #TheNationalFranchiseShow #FranchiseAssembly #franchiseshow #FranchiseSuccess #ThoughtLeadership #FranchiseGrowth #BranditandBeyond

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🎵 Adapting to the Rhythm of Business 🎵 👔 As an entrepreneur for over a decade, I've learned that business is like a dance. The tempo shifts, the melody evolves, and sometimes, the beat catches us off guard. But here's the secret: **When the music changes, you must know how to change your dance steps.** 🚀 **Embrace Agility**: Just like a skilled dancer adjusts seamlessly to new moves, successful leaders adapt to market shifts. Whether it's a disruptive technology or a global crisis, agility is our greatest asset. 🌟 **Learn from the Choreographers**: Surround yourself with mentors, industry experts, and thought leaders. They've mastered the art of pivoting gracefully. Their insights will guide your steps when the rhythm shifts. 🤝 **Collaborate on the Dance Floor**: Partnerships are like dance partners. Together, you create something beautiful. Seek collaborations that enhance your performance—with clients, employees, or other businesses. 🎯 **Lead with Purpose**: Every dance has a purpose—a story to tell. Define your company's purpose, and let it guide your choreography. When the music changes, your purpose remains constant. 🔗 **Connect with Your Audience**: Just as a dancer connects with the audience through movement, engage with your network. Share your journey, insights, and challenges. Authenticity resonates. 🎩 **Final Bow**: When the music fades, take a bow. Celebrate victories, learn from missteps, and prepare for the encore. Remember, the dance continues—it's the rhythm of progress. *Inspired by the wisdom of successful CEOs. Adapted from their playbook.* 🌟

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***SCORED CONTRACT WITH WALMART TO SELL PRODUCT IN THEIR RETAIL STORES IN U.S. MARKET: 7/5/2024. Serial entrepreneur, Dr. D. Anthony Miles CEO and founder of Miles Development Industries Corporation ® and CMO/Equity Partner of “Safe Drop®” secured a deal with Walmart. The company just signed a lucrative deal with the global retail giant, Walmart. They will be distributing the company’s product. They just signed a lucrative deal with the global retail giant, Walmart. They will be distributing the Safe Drop® product worldwide. The projected sales for Safe Drop® in 2024 is in the billions. The company’s CEO, founder and inventor, Bob Safstrom, the mastermind behind Safe Drop®. and Dr. Miles have secured a vendor contract with Walmart Inc. Safe Drop® will be sold in Walmart’s retail stores around the country. Also they will be selling “Safe Drop®” on Walmart.com. They are both very exited to have secured the deal with Walmart. This gives them the opportunity partner a global and dominant firm like Walmart.

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It took Dr. Pepper 20 years to go from America's 6th favorite soda to surpassing Pepsi for the coveted #2 spot... and it has to do with catering to super fans & real product differentiation ⬇️ 🥤 I'm not a big soda drinker personally, but it's hard not to observe the habits of your friends, your family, and all the people growing up around you who do... And everyone has a "favorite" soda they look for in stadiums, barbecues, etc. and even a persona tied to that identity. 🥤 There are the Diet Coke girlies. IYKYK, it's an absolute cult following on TikTok. 🥤 There are the ultra-enthusiasts like Warren Buffett who drink 5 Coke's A DAY. Or decades long Coke "lore" like Christmas, the polar bear, etc. 🥤 And then Dr. Pepper ppl I feel like are a bit quirky, they LIKE to be different! Or they're from the south (I have a bunch of Texas friends who love Dr. Pepper... strong distribution there? Or the 104-yr-old lady from there who has 3 a day that's gone viral) And the issue because of the similarity in taste between Coke & Pepsi... is they're always seen as a substitute for one another. How many times have you been at a restaurant and asked for a Coke, and the waitress says "we don't have Coke, but we have Pepsi... is that okay?" They'll never substitute Coke with Dr. Pepper (which has 23 flavors & ultimately a strong differentiation from the other big 2). Social media has also played a big role. Unfortunately when I think of Pepsi, I still think of the controversial Kendall Jenner Superbowl commercial from 2017. Whereas Dr. Pepper has done a great job authentically relating to a younger audience on platforms like TikTok and leaning into trends (ie: viral Dr. Pepper with pickles trend). What are your thoughts on the big soda rivalries? Would love to see Pepsi ppl come to its defense in the comments 😛 #soda #businessnews #cocacola #pepsi #drpepper #superfans #fandom

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Adaptability is Key to Business Survival In March 2020, I was in Anaheim for the Natural Products Expo West—one of the biggest and most anticipated tradeshows we attend each year. After months of preparation, this event typically accounts for nearly a quarter of incremental annual revenue. I had just spent the day connecting with colleagues, clients, and picking up my badge when I received an unexpected call: "Did you hear? They cancelled Expo West." Orange County had declared a state of emergency. As I sat in my Airbnb, my thoughts immediately went to the logistics—telling my team not to board their flights, and then the bigger question: What would this mean for our business? How could we protect our revenue? Then, I began to consider potential consulting opportunities that might arise from this sudden shift. A few days later, as I boarded my flight home, I noticed something that planted the seed for our pivot—people wearing masks. This was before mask mandates, but it got me thinking about regulated products like masks, gloves, thermometers, hand sanitizers, and disinfectants. 💡 These items are classified as medical devices, NHPs, and drugs, all within our regulatory wheelhouse of service offerings. We swiftly assembled a new marketing strategy, brought in a medical device regulatory expert, and within weeks, our focus shifted. While food and cosmetic compliance inquiries and service requests slowed down, medical device services took off, and that year we achieved our best revenue to date—up 40% from the previous year. If you're a business owner, staying nimble is crucial. Whether it’s an economic downturn, new government regulations, a competitor coming into the market, commodity prices have skyrocketed or a global pandemic, being prepared to pivot ensures you remain relevant and in business. It’s not just about understanding your industry; it’s about staying in tune with the broader world and economy. #businessstrategy #pivot #adaptability #resilience #leadership #entrepreneurship #regulatorycompliance

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🔥🍃 You know what’s really holding you back? It’s not the #cannabis market. It’s not the competition. It’s not even the damn algorithm. It’s the addiction to instant gratification. Growth comes from showing up every day. It’s about doing the hard work that doesn’t pay off instantly. It’s about creating systems that keep working even when you’re not. It’s about staying committed, even when it’s tough. I’ve been there. I know how hard it is. But the grind is where you grow. Keep pushing. Keep showing up. 👊 #cannabisindustry #thca #delta9 #hemp #cbd

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Just need a final proof/copy-edit to make sure there are no glaring errors and no embarrassing typos. Read more 👉 https://lttr.ai/ATjG3 #MonthsAgo #InternetMarketingGuru #DailyTiktokVideo #SixtySecondVideo #InternetGurus #ObviousAnswer #PracticalSolution #CleanHouse #WriterSProblems #GregBrown

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BevNET Live Winter 2024 Beverage School: Entrepreneur Interview 2 Speaker: Kayla Castenada, Founder of Agua Bonita Kayla Castenada shared her inspiring journey as the founder of Agua Bonita, highlighting the challenges and successes she’s experienced while growing her brand. From launching a mission-driven product to raising over $1 million in funding, her story offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs in the beverage industry. Key Takeaways: The Problem Agua Bonita Addresses: Agua Bonita offers a "better-for-you" spin on the traditional Mexican agua fresca. Kayla’s mission is to combat the alarming statistic that 50% of Latinos in the U.S. will develop diabetes. Pitching as a Superpower: Kayla won the BevNET Pitch Showdown and has secured over $500,000 in non-dilutive capital from pitch contests. Winning these contests not only provides funding but also serves as a powerful source of social proof. Kayla emphasized that pitching is an essential skill for founders to master. Learning the Industry: Kayla taught herself about the beverage business and venture capital by researching on Twitter and LinkedIn. Building the Right Team: She has been deliberate about hiring team members who can fill gaps in her own skillset, ensuring the business is well-rounded and prepared to grow. Focus on Resources and COGS: Kayla stressed the importance of being responsible with resources and prioritizing conversations with the right audiences. Her 2024 focus has been on improving cost of goods sold (COGS), recognizing that scaling to more stores is meaningless if profitability isn’t addressed. Tough Decisions: She spoke candidly about having to let go of partnerships that no longer serve the business, highlighting the importance of aligning relationships with company goals. Personal and Professional Balance: Kayla joked about recently having "two babies" and that running a business feels like a "piece of cake" compared to raising two kids. Major Retail Partnerships: She is prioritizing Walmart and Amazon, the two largest retailers in the world, and hinted at exciting announcements and partnerships with both in the near future. Kayla’s story underscores the power of resilience, strategic focus, and resourcefulness, offering a roadmap for other entrepreneurs navigating the complex path of building a mission-driven beverage brand. #beverage #cpg #retail #walmart #amazon BevNET.com Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage Co.

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